We had the good fortune of connecting with Juan Andrés Matos and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Juan Andrés, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Ever since I started playing the piano, I knew music was going to be a big part of my life. Although I don’t focus on the performance aspect of it anymore, I still play piano and use it to write music on a daily basis. The main draw for me to pursue this patch is the challenge of creating something new in each of my projects, hopefully enhancing peoples lives with it.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It’s taken many years of studying, practicing, and working with other people to get to where I am today. But there’s still a long way to go! I think everybody’s path is different but it’s better when those paths merge and you get to grow and learn from each other. Working with passionate creators has helped me overcome many of the challenges in my life. An important lesson I’ve learned is to choose your friends and mentors wisely. Whenever I feel stuck or have doubts, I don’t hesitate to pick up the phone to ask for their advice.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friends comes to town, I’m definitely taking them to see some live music in (pre-covid times, and hopefully not too far in the distant future!). The Getty Museum is also a must in my experience. I’d also take them to eat in the many different restaurants around town. One of the best things about LA is that you can find amazing restaurants in places where you least expect them. Afterwards I’d take them to Hollywood Blvd, the Observatory and Venice because they need to have the full Los Angeles experience.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents, without a doubt. They’ve supported my choice of being a musician since the very beginning and still do, encouraging me to keep pushing forward when things are tough and cheering me on when things are going well.
Website: www.juanmatosmusic.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juanmatosmusic/
Other: https://soundcloud.com/jmatos